Computed tomography (CT) utility for diagnosis and triage during COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

The nasopharyngeal smear with PCR analysis is the first diagnostic test proposed to confirm infection with COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2. However, its usefulness in emergency centers is limited due to its imperfect sensitivity (56-83%), limited availability and the time required to obtain results. For this reason, the chest CT-scan has been proposed as a rapid triage tool for diagnosis in these suspect Covid-19 patients. However, its specificity is limited, exposing to the risk of over-diagnosis, and further data are needed to confirm its usefulness, and to highlight the possible prognostic value of the CT, in detecting early lesions associated with poor outcome, indicating the need for admission to intensive care.